Speaking to Die Burger, Cheeky said Luke felt he had said no destructive words and therefore didn’t feel the need to defend alleged controversial statements made at UCT Rugby Club in Cape Town.

“I have never seen anyone being attacked in this way by the news media,” Cheeky said. “The whole thing is based on a tape recording but it has been found that there is nothing destructive on the tape. Now different ways are being sought.”

The paper has reportedly obtained a transcription of the speech Luke Watson made on 3 October. He had allegedly referred to Afrikaaners as “Dutchmen” in the speech but the word does not appear anywhere in the transcription.

The other serious allegation relates to him saying that he had to restrain himself from vomiting on the Springbok jersey when he made his debut against Samoa in 2007. The paper reports that there are references to that statement.